Centrifugal gun



L.. W. LOMBARD.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN.

APPLICATlON ElLED MAR. 11, 1918. RENEWED NOV. 9. 1921.

1,420,660 Patented June 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

memflubn'd Levi ar L. W. LOMBARD.

CENTRIFUGAL GUN mrucmou FILED MAR. n. 1918. RENEWED NOV. 9, 1921.

1,420,660. Patented June 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

2 so 2 I l'zwenhrr: v Levi WLombard,

' L. W. 'LOMBARD.

cammruem. cum.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. H. 1918- RENEWED 'NDV. 9,1921.

Patented J 11116 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.Fig. e.

, kQi-n.

, Levi iKLomlaardl,

' uir LEVI w. LOMBARD, or MATTAPAN, MASSACHUSETTS, assienoaro OENTRIFUGAL eon CORPORATION, a CORPORATION OF iviessacnusnrrs.

OENTRIFUGAL GUN.

7 Application filed March 11, 1918, Serial No. 222,478. Renewed November 9, 1921. Serial No. 514,120.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I .LEVI W. LOMBARD, a

citizen of the United tates of America, and

a resident of Mattapan, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have in;

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal'Guns, of which the follow-- Another object of the invention is the provision of means whereby the delivery of the ball projectiles to the propelling -mem her is limited to a single ball for each revolution of said propelling member.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for continuously supplyingprojectiles to the propelling devices.

The invention consists primarily of a revoluble disk enclosed in a casing having a tangential discharge opening in its periphery, said disk having a spiral rib in the path of the inner end of which a projectile is adapted to belfed at each revolution of said disk.

The invention further consists of certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference'to the description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinafter given. V

For the purpose of illustrating the invention one preferred form thereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described, except as required by the scopeof the appended claims.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 represents an elevation of mav chine embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a partial vertical section of the same on line 2, 2 on Fig. 1.

Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the projectile hopper and feeding device on line 3, 3,011 Fig. 1. Y 1 Figure 41 represents a horizontal section of the same on line 4', 41, on Fig. 1.

Figure 5 represents an inverted planof the casing coverr Figure 6 represents a plan of the machine.

Figure? represents a plan of the casing with the cover removed and showing in plan therevoluble disk.

Figure 8 represents a section of the mechanism for delivering the projectiles to the interior of the casing, and Figure 9 represents a section of the device for limiting the supply of-projectiles to the interior of the casing to one for each revolution of the revoluble disk.

Similar characters designate like parts Specification of Letters Patent latentedfl'une 2T7 i throughout the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 is a base or standardprovided with upwardly extending arms 11 having at their upperends bearings 12 in which are mounted the trunnions 13 of an Oscillating frame 14: having mounted therein an electric motor 15 adapted .to rotate the shaft 16 at a very high rate of speed.

One of the trunnions 13 has secured thereto a gear segment 17 meshing, with'a worm 18 securedto and revoluble with ajshaft 19 mounted in bearings 20 on a bracket 21 secured to one of the arms 11.

The bracket 21 is provided with a' receptacle 22 adapted to contain Oil in which the worm 18 is adapted to be rotated bythe handie 23 on the rear end of the shaft 19.

The axis of the frame 1 1 and motor shaft 16 may be brought to any desired inclination by rotating the worm 18 and then looked in adjusted position by the set screw 24 threaded in a boss 25 extending'from one of the bearings 20, the inner end ofsaid screw 24 impinging .upon the shaft 19 and preventing within a casing formed of a bottom plate 30, I

a cover plate 31 and an annular member 32 interposed between said plates.

and a rear sight 40 is pivoted at 41 to the casing cover 31, said bar 38 being adjustable about the pivot 41 and adapted-to be clamped in adjusted position by means of the clamping member 42 extending through the curved slot43'in a lateral arm 44 on said bar 38.

By means of the sights 39 and4O the gun may be aimed at the proper target and by adjusting the bar 38 due allowances may be made for windage, drift, and other conditions affecting the flight of the projectile.

The cover plate 31 is provided with a pointer 45 coacting with the graduations 46 on the arm 44 thereby providing a means for more accurately adjusting the sight bar.

A; pointer 47 is placed on a bearing 12 coacting with the graduations 48 on the hub of the gear 17 thereby providing a means for more accurately regulating the elevation of the gun.

The disk 29 is provided upon its upper face with two spiral ribs or members 49 the operating walls of each of which is provided with an inserted hardened member 50 with its exposed face provided with a semi-cylindrical groove as indicated at 51.

The operating grooved walls of the ribs 49 have a constantly increasing pitch from their inner ends to the outer edge of the disk 29'where said ribs terminate.

The balls or projertiles to be fired will be delivered into the interior of the casing 30, 31, 32 in the path of the inner end'of spiral rib 49 and as the disk 29 is rotated at a very high rate of speed the ball projectile will roll alon the groove 51', the speed thereof being constantly increased as it moves outward along the operating wall 50 of the rib 49. 1

The speed of the ball projectile is not only increased on account of the greater distance it moves from the center of the disk, but also on account of the peculiar shape of the said spiral ribs 49 with the constantly increasing pitch of its operating wall 50.

Only one spiral rib 49 is used at a time, a ball projectile being delivered to said rib at each revolution of the disk 49 and means is provided which prevents more than one ball being delivered into the interior of the casing 30, 31, 32 at each revolution of the d sk 29.

The second rib 49 is used to balance the rib 49 that is in action, but if the active rib 49 becomes injured in any manner the disk 29 may be removed from the flange 26 and then secured again to said flange in a position diametrically opposed to its former position. 1 j

When the disk has been thus changed the inactive rib will become active and the other will be used no longer.

Centrally disposed in the cover 31 and secured thereto is a tubular member 52 having near its upper end an annular groove 53 into which extend the reduced ends of screws 54 mounted in a tubular cap 55. This construction permits the casing 30, 31, 32 to be oscillated without moving the cap 55.

From the cap 55 extends a projectile tube through which the ball projectiles 57 are adapted to pass from the hopper 58 to the interior of the casing 30, 31, 32.

Near the cap the tube 56 has a slot 59 cut therein through which extends a spring linger 60 to retard the movement of the balls 57 through said tube when there is no pressure behind them, it being obvious, however,

that when pressure is applied to the rear of the column of balls the spring finger 60 will be lifted and permit the balls to enter the passage 61 in the safety lock 62.

The safety lock 62 is adapted to be oscillated in the cap 55 thereby permitting the upper end of the passage 61 therethrough to register with the end of the tube 56 as shown in Fig. 8 or to be moved into the position shown in Fig. 1, in which position the passage 61 is out of register with the end of tube 56 and no more balls can pass from said tube through the passage 61 into the upper end of the tubular member 52.

The safety lock 62 may be clamped in either of its positions by means of the set screw 64 having a pointed end adapted to enter indentations in the periphery of the lock 62, and thereby accurately register the same and prevent any accidental displacement of said lock while the machine is in operation.

The tube 56 is curved around the edge of the ring 32 and the lower end 65 thereof is inserted in the hub 66 of the base plate 67 of the projectile hopper 58 and is free to oscillate therein when the casing 30, 31, 32 is oscillated about the axis of the trunnions 13.

The lower end. of the tube 56 registers with a hole 63 in the plate 67 said hole communicating with a groove 69 in the upper face of said plate 67 said groove gradually decreasing in depth until at its opposite end the bottom thereof is in alinement with the upper face of said base plate 67.

The groove 69 is concentric to the center of the base plate 67 which is secured to a bracket 70 having bearings 71 in whicheis mounted a revoluble shaft 72 having an operating handle 73 secured to its lower end and a; cone-shaped revoluble :member 74 secured to its upper end within the hopper 58-superimposed upon the base plate 67.

The lower part of the hopper 58 is coneshaped at 75 with its inner wall conforming to the inclination of the periphery of the revoluble member 74. Surrounding the upper part of the revoluble member 74 the hopper 58 'is formed cylindrical as at 76 and the upper part of said revoluble mem-. ber 74 is cut away as at 77.

The entire periphery' of the revoluble member 74 is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending grooves 78 into which the balls inthe hopper 58 are received and carried around in the lower cone-shaped portion 75 of the said hopper until they drop into the groove 69. V

Owing to the constantly increasing depth of the groove 69' it is obvious that as the operator continues to revolve the member 74 the balls in the groove 69 will be forced through the hole 68 and tube 56 into the passage 61 0f the safety lock 62 from the lower end of which said balls pass into the tubular member 52.

The upper end of the bore of the tubular member 52 is cylindrical as at 79 and below this cylindrical portion is formed a helical groove 80 having a plurality of turns of the same depth and communicating with an enlarged groove 81 at the lower end.

The upward projection 28 of the shaft 16 extends into the bore of the tubular member 52 and is provided with a curved groove 82 the wall at the upper end of which registers with the cylindrical portion 79 of the bore of the tubular member;

The balls 57 when they are delivered from the tube 56 into the passage 61 pass from the lower end of said passage into the cylindrical opening 79 which is in axial alinement with the shaft 16.

When a ball 57 comes into contact with the shoulder 83 formed in the curved groove S2it will be thrown out of the center of the bore of the member 52 and as the projection 28 rotates about the axis of the shaft 16 the ball 57 will be moved along the helical groove 80 into the lower enlarged groove 81 one portion of the said ball during this movement being positioned in the curved groove 82.

Then the ball 57 reaches the lower part of the groove 82 it will be delivered onto the upper face of the disk 29 in the path of movement of the spiral rib 49 which with the disk 29 rotates in the direction of the arrow 64 on Fig. 7.

As the disk 29 is rotatedat a high rate a of speed the ball 57 will move along the spiral groove 51 with its speed constantly increasing until it reaches the extreme end of the spiral rib 49 when it will be ejected at a high velocity through the tangential discharge opening 84 in a direction indicatedby the dotted line 85.

For convenience in assembling the casing 30, 31, 32-so that the discharge opening 84 will be properly positioned relatively to the active spiral rib 49, the ring 32 is provided with a plurality'of spaced holes 86 for each bolt 87 thereby providing a means whereby the bolts 87 may be removed, the ring'32' adjusted as desired and the bolts 87 again plates 30, 31 and ring 32 inserted to lock the together.

To facilitate this adjustment of the ring 32, said ring is provided with a plurality of graduations 88 opposite one set of holes 86. a

Vhen it is desired to use the gun it may be aimed bymeansof the handle'37, elevated or depressed by the handle 23, and'a constant supply of ball projectiles delivered to the interior of the casing 30, 31, 32 by the rotation of the handle 73.

'WVhen the motor shaft 16 is rotated at the" Having thus described my invention, I f

claim: I 1. In a device ofthe class described, a revoluble plate; a spiral rib on one face thereof; a hardened grooved member set into the inside wall of said rib; and means for directing a ball to the inner end of said spiral rib. r l i 2. In a device of the class described, a rev oluble shaft; a disk securedthereto; a spiral rib thereon; a projection from the shaft extending through said disk and having a curved groove therein. terminating at the. inner end of the operatingwall of said spiral rib; a non-revoluble member positioned over said projection and having a helical groove'therein coacting with said curved groove; and means for feeding'balls intermittently from the lower end of said non-revoluble member.

3. In a device of the class described, a, revoluble shaft; a disk secured thereto; a

spiral rib thereon; a projection from, the

shaft extending through said disk and hay ing a curved groove therein terminating at the inner end of the operating wall of said spiral rib; a non-revoluble member posig tioned over said projection and having. a helical groove therein coacting with said curved groove; a tube adapted to. deliver which will finally balls'to the upper end of said non-revoluble member; and means for retarding the movement of saidvballs through said tube.

4:; In a device of the class described, a revolubleshaft; a disk secured thereto; a spiral rib thereon; a projection from the shaft extending through said disk and having a curved groove therein terminating at the innerend of the operating wall of said spiral rib; a non-revoluble member positioned; over said projection and having a helical groove therein coacting with said curved groove; a tube adapted to deliver balls to the upper end of said non-revoluble member; and a spring finger for retarding the movement of said balls through said tube.

5.- In a device of the class described, arevoluble shaft; adisk secured thereto; a spiral rib thereon; a projection from the shaft extending through said disk and having a curved groove therein terminating at the inner end of the operating wall of said spiral rib; the upper endof said groove being provided with a shoulder adapted to force a ball out of alinement with the axis of said shaft; and means coacting with said groove for feeding a ball into the path of said spiral rib.

6.- In a device of the class described, a revoluble shaft; adisk secured thereto and revolubletherewith; a casing for said disk adapted to be oscillated and having a peripheral discharge opening; a spiral member on said disk for projecting a ball through said peripheral opening; a centrally disposed tubular member secured to and projectingthrough the upper wall of said casmg; a non-revoluble tubular cap on the upper endof said tubular member; and a tube adapted to deliver balls to said tubular cap.

7 .1 In a-device of the class described, a revoluble shaft; a'disk secured'thereto and revoluble therewith; a casing for said disk adapted to be oscillated and having a peripheraldischargeopening; a spiral member on said disk for projecting a ball through said peripheral opening; a centrally disposed tubular member secured to and projecting through the upper wall of said casing; a non-revoluble tubular cap on the upper end of said tubular member; a tube adapted to deliver balls to said tubular cap; and a; safety lock in said cap provided with a p'assagetherethrough for said balls.

8. In a device of the class described, a revoluble shaft; a disk secured thereto and revolub l'e therewith; a casing for said disk adapted to be oscillated and having a pcripheral discharge opening; a spiral memher on said'disk' for projecting a ball through said peripheral opening; a centrally disposed tubular member secured to and projecting'through the upper wall of said cas- 1,420;eco

ing; a non-revoluble tubular cap on the upper end of said tubular member; a tube adapted to deliver balls to said tubular cap; and an oscillating safety lock in said cap provided with a passage tlierethrough for said balls.

9. In a device of the class described, a

revoluble shaft; a disk secured thereto and revoluble therewith; acasing for said disk adapted to be oscillated and having a pcripheral discharge opening; a spiral member on said disk for projectinga ball through said peripheral opening; a centrally disposed tubular member secured to and projecting through the upper wall of said casing; a non-revoluble tubular cap on the updischarge opening; a revolub-le disk within said casing pro-vided with" means for projecting a ball-through said opening; means for feeding balls into the said casing at a point at one side of the axis of rotation of said disk; means for rotating said' disk at a high rate of speed; a bar adjustably secured to said casing and movable parallel to the face thereof; and sights on said bar.

11. In a device of the class described; the combination of acasing having a peripheral discharge opening; a revoluble disk within said casing provided with means for projecting a. ball through said opening; means for feeding balls into the said casing at a point: atone side of the axis of rotation of said disk; means for rotating said disk at a high rate of speed; a bar pivotally secured to said casing and movable parallel to the face thereof; and sights on said bar.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing having a peripheral discharge opening; a revoluble disk within said casing provided with means forpro jecting a. ball through said opening; means forfeeding balls into thesaid casing at a. point at one side of the axis of rotation of said disk; means for rotating said disk at a high rate of speed; a frame on which said casing is mounted; trunnions: therefor; a motor in said frame adaptedto impart rotary movement to said revoluble disk; a:

support having hearings: in which saidtrunnions are mounted; a gear segment on one trunnion; and a rotatable worm meshing with said gear segment. 7

13. In a device of the class described,the combination of a casing having a peripheral discharge opening; a revoluble disk within said casing provided with means for projecting a ball through said opening; means for feeding balls into the said casing at a point at one side of the axis of rotation of said disk; means for rotating-said disk at a high rate of speed; a supply hopper for the balls; a revoluble grooved member in said hopper; and a tube therefrom to said ball feeding means.

14. In a device of the classdescribed, a

casing; a revoluble shaft'extendingthrough said casing; a diskprovided with two oppositely disposed spiral members; means for feeding balls to the inner end of one 'of said spiral members; and means for securing said disk to said shaft whereby either ofsaid spiral members-may be placed in operation. a

15. In a device of the class, described, a

casing; a revoluble shaft extending through said casing and provided with a peripheral flange; a disk provided with two oppositely disposed spiral members; means for feed ing balls to the inner end of one of said spiral members; and means; for securing said disk to the flange of said shaft whereby either. of said spiral members may be placed in operation.

'16. Ina device of the class described, a revoluble shaft; a disk secured thereto; a spiral member thereon; a casing enclosing said disk including'in part an annular ring having a peripheral discharge opening therein and a cover plate therefor, said ring having a. plurality ofispaced boltholes for each bolt hole in said cover plate; bolts for securing said cover plate to said ring; and

means carried by said cover plate for delivering a ball into said casing in the path of said ,spiral member.

17'. Ina device'of the class described, a revoluble shaft; a disk secured-thereto; a spiral member thereon; a casing enclosing said disk including in part anannular ring having" a peripheral discharge opening therein and a cover plate therefor, said ring having a plurality of spaced bolt holes for each bolt hole in said cover plate; bolts for securing said cover plate to saidring; means carried by said cover plate for delivering a ball into said casing in the path of said spiral member; and graduations' on said ring opposite one set said bolt holes.

and a member on the upper end of said shaft" projecting into the bore of said tubular member.

19. Ina device of the class described, a revoluble shaft; a disksecured theretoand revoluble therewith; a spiral member on said disk; a casing enclosing said disk and c, 7 V tending through thecover of sa1d cas ng, the inner wall of said tubular member belng rality of turns of the same diameter .andfa single larger turn at the lower end having; a greater diameter; 11163113 for feeding balls" to the upper end of said tubular member; and a .member on the upper end of said provided with a peripheral discharge open-- tubular member secured to and; 8X,-;-

provided with'ahelical groovehaving aplushaft projecting into the bore of said tubular member and provided with a semi-cylin-..

drical groove extending"downwardly from' the upper end-and curved-I outwardly at its lower end with its lowest part coinciding with the lower innerwall of said casing.

20. In a device-bf the class described, a

revoluble shaft-ya disk secured thereto and" revoluble therewith; a spiral member on.

said disk; a casing enclosing said" disk and provided with a peripheral discharge ,opening; a tubular member-secured to and ex tending through the cover of said. cas1ng,'

provided with a helical groove having a plurality of turns of the same diameter "and'a single larger turn atmthe lower end havinga greater diameter; means for feedingfballs to the upper end offsaidltubular member and a member on the-upper end of said v the inner wall of said; tubular member being i shaft projecting into the bore 10f said tubu lar memberand provided with a semi-cylinp .drical groove extending downwardlyfro'm the upper end. and curved outwardly at its lower end with. its lowest part coinciding with the lower inner wall'bf. said casing;

ball out shaft.

21. In a device of th e class describechla and means in said groove above the lower turn, of said helical groove for forcing a] of allnement with the ax sof sa d revoluble shaft; a disk secured theretoand 'revoluble therewith; a spiral member on-said, disk; a casing enclosing said disk and provided with a peripheral discharge opening;- a'tubular member secured to andextending through the cover of said leasing; means within said tubular member for directing a which the balls are delivered to said tubular member; a plate in which the opposite end of said tube is mounted, said plate having a spiral groove therein; and a hopper for the balls superimposed upon said plate: and adapted to deliver balls to said spiral groove.

22. In a device of the class described. a

revoluble shaft; a disk Secured thereto and 1 20. ball to the interior of" said casing in the path of said spiral member; a tube through 1 revoluble therewith; a spiral -member on said dish; a casingenclosing said disk and provided with a peripheral discharge opening; a tubular member secured to and ex tending through the cover of said casing; means within said tubular member directing a bal] to the interior of said c'asing in the path of said spiral member; a tube tube through which the balls are delivered to through which the balls are delivered to said tubular member; a plate in which the opposite end of said tube is mounted and adapted to be oscillated, said plate having a spiral groove therein; and a hopper for,

the balls superimposed upon said plate and adapted to'deliver balls to said spiral groove.

23. In a device of the class described, a revoluble shaft; a disk secured thereto and revoluble therewith; a spiral member on said disk; casing'enclosing said diskand provided with a peripheral discharge opening; a tubular member secured to and eX- tending through the cover of said casin n L t)? 1 means within said tubular member for directing a ball to the interior of said casmg in the path of said spiral member; a

said tubular member; a plate in which the opposite end of said tube is mountec, said plate having a spiral groove therein; a hopper' for the balls superimposed upon said plate; and a revoluble member in said hopper adapted to deliver balls to said spiral groove. 7

24. In a device of the class described, a

-.revoluble shaft; a disk. secured thereto and revoluble therewith; a spiral member on said disk; a casing enclosing said disk and provided with a peripheral discharge opening; a tubular member secured to and ex tending through the cover of said casing;

'means within said tubular member for directing a ball to the interior of said casing 1n thepath of said spiral member; a tube through wh ch the balls are delivered to said tubular member; a plate in which r the opposite end of sald tube is mounted,

said plate having a spiral groove therein; a hopper for the balls superimposed upon said plate; and a revoluble cone-shaped for member in said hopper provided with ya :plurality of peripheral grooves adapted to deliver balls to said spiral groove.

25. In a device of the class described, a

revoluble shaft; adisk secured thereto and revoluble therewith; a spiral member on said disk; a casing enclosing said disk and pro vided with a peripheral discharge opening; a-tubular member secured to and extending through the cover of said casing; means within said tubular member for directing a ball to the interior of said casing in the path of said spiral member; a tube through which the balls are delivered to said tubular member; a plate in which the opposite end'oi said tube is mounted, said plate havingva spiral groove therein gradually decreasing in depth to theupper surface of said plate; and a hopper'tor the balls superimposed upon said plate and adapted to deliver balls to said spiral groove.

' 26. In a device of the class described,-a revoluble shaft; a disk securedthereto and revoluble therewith; a spiral member on said "("llSk; a casing enclosing said dJskand provided with a peripheral discharge-opening; a tubular member secured toand extendmg through the cover oi said casing; means within said tubular member for directinga ball to the interior of said casing in the upperends, said grooves in the rotation of vsaid cone-shaped member being adapted to deliver. balls to said spiral groove,

' Signed by me at 4 Post Oflice Sq.,Boston,

Mass this 11th day of January 1918.

LEVI LOM'BARD.

l Vitnesses "WALTER E. LQMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD. 

